
Species profile
Pinto Abalone
Haliotis kamtschatkana
Identify Pinto Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 3 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Pinto Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) is an IUCN Endangered abalone regulated in 3 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 2,321 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, Alaska, and California the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- The northernmost abalone in the eastern Pacific, ranging as far north as Alaska.
- Its mottled brown-and-white shell pattern gives the species its 'pinto' name.
- Shell typically reaches about 6 inches (15 cm) at full size.
- Thrives in cold, rocky subtidal habitats along the Pacific Northwest coast.
- Populations have declined sharply due to decades of overharvesting.
Where Pinto Abalone are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Pinto Abalone
Background
Haliotis kamtschatkana, common name the northern abalone or pinto abalone, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Pinto Abalone article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other abalone on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Pinto Abalone?
Pinto Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) is an IUCN Endangered abalone regulated in 3 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Pinto Abalone?
Pinto Abalone is Haliotis kamtschatkana.
Is Pinto Abalone regulated for fishing?
Yes — Pinto Abalone has fishing regulations in 3 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Pinto Abalone?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Pinto Abalone along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.